History     Portuguese Community The Portuguese began arriving in Kensington Market in the late 1950s. They painted the old house fronts in bright, warm colours, and decorated front yards with religious icons. Kensington bloomed with the grapevines, vegetables and flowers growing in their backyards and creating a neighbourhood with a different style, but with the same feeling of community. The Portuguese continued the Jewish tradition of opening stores on the first floor of their homes. << Helpers next >>